Acura and Honda send off NSX with final run Type S

After a five-year production run, the Acura/Honda NSX is set to be farewelled but not without the Japanese manufacturer giving the sportscar one last hurrah.

To celebrate the end of the mid-engined coupe's lifecycle, the NSX has been given the Type S treatment, receiving more than just a few little tweaks and a special badge.

First of all, power and torque from its 3.5-litre, twin-turbo V6 has been increased thanks to the standard turbos being replaced with units used in the GT3 race car, bumping boost up by 5.6 per cent to deliver 447kW and 667Nm – 20kW/22Nm more than the base NSX.

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It's not just the internal combustion engine which has been tweaked, as the battery was given a tune-up to feature 20 per cent greater capacity and 10 per cent higher output – undoubtedly aiding the increased torque figures while also helping fill gaps when the turbos are off boost.

A revised software map for the NSX's nine-speed dual-clutch gearbox includes a new rapid downshift mode, allowing the transmission's computer to skip through gears rather than click down through the sets sequentially when the paddle is held for 0.6 seconds.

In sport and sport+ modes, shift times are now down by 50 per cent from the time the paddles are pulled, with the 'box now down-changing almost instantly when brake pressure is applied – allowing the car to go down the cogs while still in a straight line for greater stability.

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To help keep everything cool, Acura has revised the front intakes on the NSX Type S, aiding the control of engine temperatures by sending more air to the larger radiators, while also increasing downforce in tandem with the GT3-inspired rear diffuser.

The carbon fibre theme doesn't stop with the diffuser, as the front splitter, side skirts, rear spoiler and roof also get the lightweight treatment – however Acura also offers a Lightweight Package which includes carbon ceramic brakes and a high-gloss carbon fibre bonnet, taking 26kg off the Type S's curb weight.

All of these changes, plus the addition of five-spoke wheels shod in Pirelli PZero rubber, have resulted in the Type S recording a lap time two seconds faster than the standard NSX around Honda's Suzuka test track – although no times have been released comparing the normal Type S with the Lightweight Package.

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Unfortunately, if you want a Type S in Australia, you're out of luck. Honda stopped bringing the NSX Down Under last year.

Limited to just 350 units, with 300 ending up in the garages of United States buyers, the Type S goes on sale with a price tag of US$169,500 (AU$231,000) – while the Lightweight Package incurs a premium, bumping its value up to US$182,500 (AU$249,000).

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